CircumscriptibleQuadrilateral2

1. Circumscriptible quandrilateral, intersection properties

Consider the quadrangle ABCD circumscriptible on circle c. Let {K,L,M,N} be the contact points of the sides with (c), E be the intersection point of lines {KL,MN}.
[1] Define F=LN*MK (* denoting intersection), J=ML*KN. Line FJ is the polar of E (see the basic figure for polar construction in Polar2.html ).
[2] By the same reference FE is the polar of J and JE is the polar of F.
[3] Line ML is the polar of A and passes through J. By the reciprocity of polars, the polar of J which is EF will pass through A. Analogously it will pass through C. This shows the concurence of the four lines {MN,KL,AC,BD} at E (this is a special case of Brianchon's theorem, see Brianchon2.html ).
[4] By the definition of polarity points (K,N,J,J') make a harmonic division on line NK which is projected from C to (G,H,J,F). Hence these points make also a harmonic division.
[5] Reading the figure from the viewpoint of the inscribed quadrangle LMKN we obtain the specialization of Pascal's theorem for inscriptible quadrilaterals: The intersection points {G,H} of opposite sides and {F,J} of tangents at opposite vertices are on a line and make on it a harmonic division.

2. Conics circumscribing a quadrangle

[1] The figure is tightly connected with the theorems of Pascal and its dual of Brianchon, specialized for quadrangles. The arguments transfer verbatim to show corresponding properties for quadrangles inscribed/circumscribed in conics.
[2] There are inverses to the theorems of Pascal and Brianchon for quadrangles inscribed/circumscribed in conics. The inverse of Pascal's theorem for quadrangles is shown in Pascal2.html . The assumptions for this inverse is that the four points {M,K,L,N} are such that on line FJ there are given two points {G,H} which are harmonic conjugate to {F,J}. Then there is a conic circumscribing MKNL and having opposite tangents intersecting at those {G,H}. Obviously the conic is a circle when {G,H} coincide with the intersections of FJ with the medial lines of {KL,MN} and in addition these points are harmonic conjugate to {F,J}. Anyway there are simpler conditions to test the cyclicity of MKNL, but it is interesting to see all conics circumscribing the quadrangle. They are parameterized by the position of point G on line FJ (since H is then determined from G). The figure below shows such a family of conics circumscribing the quadrangle MKNL.
For all these conics the pole of line FJ is the same point E=KL*MN.
[3] Given the position of G below the construction of the concrete conic is done by an appropriate member of the (bitangent) family of conics generated by lines {CM,CL} considered as a degenerate conic and the line ML (considered as a double line degenerated conic). The member is the one passing through one of the other two points {K,N}.

3. Conics inscribed in a quadrilateral

[1] There is a dual viewpoint by which we fix the tangents at opposite vertices {K,L} and {M,N}, consequently points {G,H} and the circumscribed quadrilateral ABCD. Then {F,J} are also determined by the diagonals of ABCD and are fixed and harmonic conjugate to {G,H}. The contact points {L,N} and {M,K} on the sides of ABCD of every conic inscribed in ABCD are determined by arbitrary pairs of lines {EL,EN} such that the bundle of lines E(F,J,L,N) is a harmonic one.
[2] The duality is between the points of the line FJ and the bundle of lines (often denoted by E*) at E which is the pole of FJ. To every pair of conjugate points {G,H} to {F,J} corresponds a circumconic and to every pair of conjugate lines {EL,EN} to {EF,EJ} corresponds an inconic.

[3] The above figure illustrates the case of all inconics to quadrilateral ABCD by determining each one of them through two points {M',L'} harmonic conjugate with respect to {F,J}. These points define the required harmonic bundle at E, E(D,C,N,L) by which the contact points {L,N,K,M} are determined.
[4] The concrete conic in the above figure is constructed is defined as an appropriate member of the (bitangent) family of conics generated by lines {CM,CL} considered as a degenerate conic and the line ML (considered as a double line degenerated conic). The member is the one passing through one of the other two points {K,N}.

4. Remarks

[1] The discussion in [2] gives an overview of the set of conics circumscribing a quadrangle (KNML). It gives also a way to parameterize this set and construct the conic corresponding to some parameter.
[2] Analogous is the discussion in [3] concerning this time the conics inscribed in a given quadrilateral ABCD. From this discussion follows also easily the inverse of Brianchon's theorem for quadrilaterals inscriptible in circles/conics:
Given the quadrilateral ABCD, let E be the intersection point of its diagonals and {G,H} the intersection points of pairs of opposite sides. Let also {F,J} be the intersection points of the diagonals with line GH. Then for every pair (EL,EN) of lines through E, conjugate with respect to (EF,EG) there is a conic tangent to ABCD and having lines {EL,EN} as lines of contacts of the quadrilateral with the conic.
[3] Section [3] gives also a structural view to the problem of finding a conic tangent to four given lines and passing through a point lying on one of them (L say). The given point determines simply the pair of lines (EL,EN) conjugate to (EF,EG) and needed for the definition of the conic.
[4] In the file ParabolaInscribedQuad.html I discuss the problem of finding the parabola inscribed in the quadrilateral.

1. Circumscriptible quandrilateral, intersection properties

2. Conics circumscribing a quadrangle

3. Conics inscribed in a quadrilateral

4. Remarks

See Also